Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-02-02

most Of them had been unaule TO obtain work
at harness making since
Mr.. II Jordan OF Portland, said the
carriage busines, had run down in NJ line
since the prison manufacture.
MIR WIN. McAleney, Y nus Thompson,
Jr.. and VIM Larkn of Portland, further
spoke OF the Injurious effect OF convict labor
on the harness business Of Portland and the
State.
Letters were presented from Portland and
other parts of the State relating to the harsh.
ness OF prison competition.
s8Warden Bean next answered for the prison.
he laid stress on the fact that he did not
come as an Antagonist of the gentlemen who
had appeared and proceeded to show what
the prison had been doing For the year
ending Nov. 80 the total sales of the carriage
department were S44 Ol9S9, four hundred
and fourteen vehicles being manufactured:
harness department, 50 ,276 OF. one thousand
and thirty four harnesses being manufactured
besides other work, at S22 SO each. There
were sold in the State about Is per cent. Of
the goods manufactured at the prison The
warden estimated that OF the harnesses and
carriage goods used in the State only /. II per
cent. we're manufactured al the prison. The
hearing occupied nearly all the afternoon
and the matter WAS tabled
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE.
The Committee on Finance met in the
State Treasurers office at 2 z. N for the
purpose of giving a hearing on the proposed
excise tax of one-half per cent. on water
companies. Mayor Macomber of Augusta
stated that City Solicitor Choate was present
to represent the interests of this city First
Svlsctman oicFarland Of Gorham, Who 10 also
one of the assessors Of that town, stated that
there were Is miles of water pipe in tho town
and this bill struck at the root of taxation.
Mr.. Allen, who introduced the bill,
said the principle of taxation was the
same MS that by which towns tax the property
of savings banks and railroad corporations
within their boundaries. He proposed
changes That the per cent. be placed higher
and the amount collected by taxation go
back to the towns Mr.. Allen would have
the companies which had made agreements
with towns that no tax be assessed, exempt
from the provisions of the bill. TO give
other parties an opportunity to be heard, the
hesring was adjourned until evening.
The hearing on the taxing of water COM
panies was continued last evening. Wilbur
Lunt, Esq spoke attorney for the town
of Gorham and preseLt' the claims of that
town for the prcstrvatIun OF Its right to tax
the property of the Portland Water Com
pany within the town. MIR. Lunt thought
the towns and cities were gong to loose
something, or the corporations would not be
so earnest to have the bill passed. he did
not believe there was any necessity for a
change of the law and ne was satisfied to
let ell enough alone.
MIR. Mcclellan spoke for his town and
thought the assessment on $4,000 worth of
the Portland Water Co . property in Cor
ham was not excessive, and thought 1t would
be unjust to deprive the town OF thus taxation.
A. A. Strout. Esq, said the water CON-
panies would prefer specific tax and not be
subject to the uncertainties OF municipal
taxation He asked i the representatives of
G. lrham would be satisfied If the law was
framed so all the towns will obtain their pro-
portiopal portion of the tax assessed by the
State.
The committee adjourned to meet Friday
" hen the hearing Will be continued.
TEMPERANCE.
The Committee on Temperance gave a
hearing last evening to the petitioners for a
more stringent liquor law. Geo. +. Brack-
EFT, Esq, of Belfast, on the part of the Good
Templars of the State, presented the three
temperance bills to the committee, the cider
bill amended so as to include cider from the
time it leaves the press The bill and three
provisions were supported by c. A. Farwell,
Pittsfield; F. w. Gowell, Freedom; N. j.
Dow, Brooks; Mrs. NJ. l.. n. Stevens, Stroud
water; Gen Neal Dow, Portland.
County Attorney Geo. M. Seiders of Cum
berland did not favor Imprisonment tor the
first otfense but belived the present laws
should be enforced. All laws, he believed,
the liquor as well as others, should be backed
up by public sentiment.
Horace II. Burbank, Esq of Saco thought
there was plenty OF law and believed in hav-
ing county officers who were faithful to their
trust, and healthy public sentiment. de
would place cider on level with rum ana
not give any cider to minors. He arranged
the railroads for carrying liquor; and would
have the law imprisoning the drunkard mod
flied.
County Attorney Carleton made a strong
argument tor more law. He would have all
coptraband LIQUORS split and some legitimate
way-by agencies or otherwise,-to obtain
LIQUORS; no change in the cider law; have
Imprisonment for the first offrnse; the paying
of a to u. S. tax convict The speaker de-
nounced the drug stores rs respectable rum
shops.
James S. Wright, Esq, of Paris and Mr..
3. s. Kelly were other speakers.
The committee adjourned about midnight.
JUDICIARY.
The Senate Chamber was thronged yester'
dsy afternoon on the occasion of the hearing
on the chsrtering of the new Bar Haroor
Water Co. Mr.. Blaine was in tue chamber
remaining during the afternoon. l.. Z. Cor
nish opened for the Eden Water Co., and
said the total capacity of the present works
was ZOO, 900 gallons per day and last year
| 600. 900 gallons. Thettotal taxation In tn
village last year was $4,000. Mr.. Hiram
M. Norton, plumber, said that he had taken
the pressure at one time and found 1t aoou
S5 bounds. John f. Clark. contractor ant
builder in lSS0-sl, testified that the four inch
supply pipe was replaced by ten inch. Iht
water was taken about mile from the lake
and 40 or so feet below it; elevation OF the
lake 275 feet; water cannot be obtained a.
the cottages on the hisher levels. Never
knew any one to go or stay away on accoun
of insufficient water supply. A. L. Alley o.
| the ST. Lawrence Hotel was called.
The committee adjourned to meet this al
ternoon.
| EDUCATION.
Nearly the entire afternoon was devoted &c
tho discussion of the uniformity OF tex
hooks bill. Among the gentlemen who spok
we're the following County Attorney Seider'
of Cumberland. Prof. G. A. Robertson
Augusta, Mr.. Allen of the House, Secretorl
of State Smith, Rev. Hudson Sawyer o